Apparatus for lubricating railway rails



Oct. 25, 1932. C, R MlLLER ET AL 1,884,079

APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING RAILWAY RAILS Filed Jan. 24p'r 1930 Patented Qct. 25, 1932 v UNrrs stares PATENT OFFICE CHARLES R. MILLER AND JOHN E. MOUNTFORD, JR., OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATINGV RAILWAY RAILS Application med January 24, 1930. serial No. 423,032.

In modern railway practice it is customary to lubricate the inner face of the head of the rail where there is unusual friction, especially on curves, and our present invention comprises new and improved apparatus for this general purpose.

Among the objects which we have in view is the provision of means for lubricating the rail in advance of the wheels, and for this purpose we provide a lubricant discharge device adjacent to the inner face of the rail head and means for operating the same, said means being so located as to be actuated by the wheel before the latter reaches the portion of the rail to bev lubricated.

One of the characteristic features of our present invention is the structure of our lubricant discharge device and the means whereby the device is charged with lubricant and also the means whereby such lubricant is subsequently discharged against the rail.

For this purpose in the preferred embodiment of our invention the discharge device is connected to means, preferably a pump, for supplying charges of lubricant, such as grease, under pressure, and also to means, preferably an air pump, for discharging the lubricant by a blast of compressed air.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention we provide two lubricant discharge devices which are located in spaced relation to each other and which are operated by means of a pivoted lever placed intermediate of the discharge devices and which is operated by the tread of the wheel traveling along the rail.

The lever is preferably pivoted intermediate of its ends so as to be oscillated first in one direction and then in the other direction, the conections being such that when the lever is oscillated in one direction the lubricant is discharged from one of the discharge devices, such as that in front of the wheel operating ythe lever and the lubricant is supplied to the other discharge device, such as that in the rear of the traveling wheel.

Other novel features of construction and arrangement of parts will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein we have illustrated a. practical embodiment of the principles of our invention, Fig. l is a side elevation showing a porton of a rail and our improved lubricating apparatus applied thereto, the discharge devices being shown in vertical section for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same on a somewhat smaller scale.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken along the line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the nozzle nipples.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section along the line 5 5 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the grease reservoir taken along the line 6 6 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, l represents the rail, the inner surface of whose head is to be lubricated, 2 represents a pair of discharge members which are spaced apart along the rail so as to apply lubricant at the proper points to the inner face of the head of the rail. The members 2 are shown as metal blocks which are mounted on the two-part chairs 3 which are in turn clamped by bolts to the base of the rail. The blocks 2 are held in place by bolts 4 screwed into holes in the blocks and extending down through the chairs. Springs 4a hold the blocks elevated to the proper level, such elevation being regulated by adjusting the bolts. are set inwardly from the rail to provide clearance for the wheel flanges. If the wheel should come into contact with the blacks, the latter will be depressed without injury.

Each of the blocks 2 is provided with a horizontal passage 5 whose ends are counterbored and threaded. The front or rail end of the passage has screwed therein the nozzle bushing 6, the inner end of whose bore is cylindrical to match the passage 5 while the outer end of the bore is flattened horizontally so as to form a fanlike discharge opening for the lubricant. The elevation of the block is regulated by adjusting the bolts 4 so that the discharge of the lubricant will be directed againstthe inner surface of the head of the rail.

The blocks 2 vided with axially alined circular holes, the

hole in the inner arm being preferably of less diameter than in they outer arm. 10

represents eccentric bushings mounted in said holes, and 11 represents a pivot pin having a differential diameter proper to fit in said bushings.y I

The pin 11 is held against displacement by means of cotter pins 12 extending through holes in the stand, the bushings and the pin, the holes in the bushings being circumferentially slotted so that the bushings may be turned to raise and lower the pin 11 relative to the tread of the rail. `j 13 represents a rocking lever having its center provided with a bearing hole 14 yby means of which the lever is pivotally mounted onthe central portion of the pin 11, the arms of the stand 9 serving to guide the movement of the lever in a vertical plane. The top center of the lever 13 is depressed to prevent contact of the wheels therewith and thus preventdownward pressure on the pivot pin. The top edge of the lever inclines upwardly in both directions from its center to a point 13a and thence downwardly to the ends of the lever. yIt is thus evident that a wheel approaching either end of the lever will not contact with the end of the latter but will ride up over the lever and will depress the lever as the wheel passes over the elevation 13a. By adjusting the eccentric bushing 10 the proper contact of i the wheels with the lever will be obtained Adjacent to each end of the lever 13 and on the outside of the rail 1'is a pump block 15 mounted on a chair 16 which is clamped to the base of the rail. n v

Each pump block is provided with a verti# call disposed air-pump cylinder 17 in which wor s a piston 18 connected by the jointed piston rod 19 to the lever 13. The lower end of the cylinder 17 is provided with a reduced outlet port- 20 which is vconnected by a pipe 21 with the rear end of the passage 5 of the discharge member 2 which is located on the same side of the axis of the lever 13 as is the air pump in question. The block 15 is also provided with a vertically disposed lubricant cylinder 22 which is preferably provided with a brass liner 23 in which works the jointed `piston 24 connected at its outer end Withthe lever 13.

The lower end of the cylinder 22 is connected by a pipe 25 with the center leg of a T-f'itting 26.V One of the arms of the fitting 26 is connected by a branch pipe 27 with the outlet pipe 28 which leads from the bottom of the lubricant reservoir 29. The other arm of the fitting 26 is connected by a pipe 30 with the outer end of the passage 7 of the discharge block 2 which is on the opposite side of the axis of the lever from the grease pump in question. j

Between the pipe 27 and the fitting 26 is a check or ball valve 31, arranged to open toward the fitting, while between the pipe 30 and the fitting is a like valve 32 arranged to open away from the fitting.

It is obvious that an out-stroke of the piston 24 will open the valve 31 and close the valve 32, ythus drawing in lubricant from the reservoir into the cylinder 22, and that an in-stroke of the piston will close the valve 31 and open the valve 32, thus causing a measured quantity or charge of lubricant to be ejected through the passage 7 into the passage 5.

It is evident that a depression of an end of the lever 13 by a traveling wheel will blow the charge of lubricant contained in the passage 5 from the discharge member 2 adjacent to the said end of the lever and at the saine time a charge of lubricant will be delivered to the passage 5 and the nozzle of the other discharge member 2.

It is further evident that after the wheel passes over the center of the lever it will depress the other end of the lever, thus reload ing with lubricant the discharge member from which lubricant has previously been discharged and discharging the lubricant from the discharge member previously charged with lubricant. f

The reservoir 29, in which a supply of the lubricant, preferably a semi-fluid grease of suitable character is stored, may be located at some convenient point at the outside of the track. The reservoir is preferably of cylindrical form and is provided with a removable lid or cover 33 and a follower or pressure plate which rides on the lubricant stored in the reservoir and descends with the lowering level of lubricant. The follower is shown comprising the upper and lower metal disks 34 clamping between them the leather cup 35 whose perimetral edge trails as shown in Fig. 6.

The center of the follower is provided with a circular opening 36 which is normally closed by a valve 37 carried on the lower end of a stem 38 which is guided by the cage 39. A spring 40 coiled about the stein within the cage 39 resiliently holds the valve seated.

41 is a bent `semaphore arm which is pivotally mounted on a stand 42 rising from the lid 33. A cable 43 connects the short arm of the semaphore with the upper end of the valve stemy 38. When the lubricant has fallen iny the reservoir to a predetermined low level, the

cable tightens, turning the semaphore into a horizontal position to indicate that the reservoir is empty. .The tightening of the. cable also serves to lift the valve from its seat, thus breaking the vacuum and permitting the :t'olloWer to be readily removed lso that the reservoir may be reiilled.l

To cushion the termination of a. movement or stroke of the lever 13 We may provide the 'ends of the lever with contact lugs Llll which strike on the rubber abutment blocks l5 stepped in sockets in the pump block l5.

The use of the double acting operating lever obviates the use of springs in the operating mechanism Which are actuated by the Wheels.

The means for rst charging the discharging device and then for ejecting the charge against the rail enables they use of grease instead of oil, thus providing for a more suitable and more en-during lubricant.

The eccentric bushings enable the center portion of the oscillating lever to be adj usted at the proper elevation to prevent its engagement by the Wheels and thus preserves the lever and its associated mechanism from injury.

In installing our lubricating device no machine Work on or cutting of the rail is necessary, and the device may be quickly and conveniently installed on or removed trom the rail Without alteration of the structure or arrangement of the latter.

The reservoir may be conveniently placed Where it is out of reach of injury and any number of lubricating devices may be coupled up to the same reservoir.

The discharge devices are spring supported in place so that in case they are engaged by a Wheel, such for instance as the langeless driving Wheels of a. locomotive which have broadened treads, the devices will be depressed Witliout injury and will immediately spring back into position after the Wheel has passed on.

What We claim is l. In rail-lubricating apparatus, the combination of a lubricant-discharge device positioned at the inside of the rail, an oscillating lever arranged to be moved by a Wheel travelling along the rail, a. lubricant pump arranged to charge the discharge device, an air-pump arranged to eject the charge against the rail, and operative connection between the lever and the pumps.

2. In rail-lubricatingapparatus, the combination of a lubricant-discharge device positioned at the inside of the rail, an oscillating lever positioned at the outside of the rail and arranged to be moved 'by the tread of a Wheel travelling along the rail, a lubricant pump arranged to charge the discharge device, an air-pump arranged to eject the charge against the rail, and operative connection between the lever and the pumps.

3. In rail-lubricating apparatus, the combination ot a lubricant-discharge device positioned at the inside of the rail, an oscillating lever arranged to be moved by a Wheel travelling along the rail, a lubricant-pump arranged to chargethe discharge device, an air-pump arranged to eject the charge against the rail, and operative connection between the lever and the pumps whereby the movement of the lever in one direction charges the discharge device While the movement of the lever in the opposite direction ejects the charge against the rail.

1i. In rail-lubricating apparatus, the combination of a lubricant-discharge device positioned at the inside of the rail, an oscillating lever positioned at the outside of the rail and arranged to be moved by the tread of al Wheel travelling along` the rail, a lubricant-pump arranged to charge the discharge device, an air-pump arranged to eject the charge against the rail, and operative connection between the lever and the pumps whereby the movement of the lever in one direction charges the discharge device While the movement of the lever in the opposite.

direction ej ects the charge against the rail.

5. In rail-lubricating ap aratus the comb L 7 binatlon of a lubricant-discharge device positioned at the inside of the rail, a lever mounted to oseillate on an axis intermediate of its ends and arranged to be moved iirst in one direction and then in the other direction by Va Wheel travelling' along` the rail, a lubricant-pump arranged to charge the discharge device, an air-pump arranged to eject the charge against the rail, and connections whereby the movement of the lever in one direction operates the lubricant pump and the movement of theolever in the opposite direction operates the air-pump.

6. In rail-lubricating apparatus, the combination of a pair of lubricant-discharge devices in spaced relation and positioned at the inside of the rail, a pair ot pumps associated With each discharge device and comprising a lubricant-pump to charge the corresponding pump device and an air-pump to eject the charge against the rail, an oscillating lever arranged to be moved by a Wheel traveling along the rail, and means whereby Tvvhen the lever is moved in one direction the lubricant-pump of one pair and the air-pump or" the other pair are operated and When the lever is moved in the other direction the airpump of the first mentioned pair and the lubricant-pump of the second mentioned pair are operated.

.7. In rail-lubricating apparatus, the combination of a pair of lubricant-discharge devices in spaced relation and positioned at the inside of the rail, a pair of pumps associated with each discharge device and comprising a lubricant-pump to charge the corresponding discharge device and an air-pump to eject the charge against the rail, an oscillating lever arranged toV be moved by a wheel travel'- ling along the rail, said lever being positioned between said discharge devices,

f whereby when theV lever is moved in one direction the lubricant-pump of one pair and the air-pump of the other pair areoperated and when the lever is moved in the other direction the air-pump of the first mentioned pair and the lubricant pump of the second` mentioned pair are operated. Y

8. In rail-lubricating apparatus, the coinbination with a lubricant discharge device positioned adj acont to the rail, a lubricant reservoir, a lubricant-pump having its intake connected to the lower portion of the reservoir and its discharge to said discharge device, a follower resting on the lubricant in said reservoir, a semaphore actuated by the follower and arranged to indicate the descent of the follower to a predetermined low level.

9. In rail-lubricating apparatus, the coinbination with a lubricant discharge device positioned adjacent to the rail, a. lubricant reservoir, a lubricant-pump having its intake connected to the lower portion of the reservoir and its discharge to said discharge device, a follower resting on the lubricant in said reservoir, a semaphore actuated by the follower and arranged to indicate the descend of the follower to a predetermined low level, a valve to break the vacuum under the follower, and means whereby when the follower has descended to a predetermined low level said valve is unseated.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa., this 22 day of January 1930.

CHARLES R. MILLER. JOHN E. MOUNTFORD, JR.

and means Y Y 

